Vote recorder



I United States Patent [72] Inventor In G-Laws 3,240,409 3/1966 Harris n235/50X Tulsa, Oklahoma 3,280,482 10/ 1966 Johnson... 225/93X [2]}-Appl. No. 765,293 3,424,376 1/1969 Evans 235/50 523 2 232 PrimaryExaminer-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley A. Wal [73] gt'r gr ggfgz Corponflon Attorney-Mason,Kolehmainen,Rathburn and Wyss acorporation of Delaware ABSTRACT: Apparatus for recording selections ofa voter made by punching out selected, prescored areas on a machine [54]VOTE RECORDER processable record card with a stylus, comprising support7 claims, 10 Drawing 18$ means underlying the card for supporting thesame while the voter's selections are being made. The support means com-235/50 prises a unitary mat formed of a thin sheet of resilient material7 llprovided a plurality of elongaed slotted openings posi- [50] FieldSearch 235/50; tioned to lie in matched confronting relation beneath the225/93; 345/l04 143; 83/168 prescored areas of the ballot. The matincludes downwardly depending, integrally formed, longitudinal,stiffening ribs [56] References Cited spaced on opposite sides of eachrow of slots in the mat and UNITED STATES PATENTS the ribs are supportedin recesses formed in a supporting 3,007,620 Ill 1961 Laframboise et al.225/93 framework of the vote recorder.

Patented Oct. 27, 1970 Sheet 4 wm M E 6% M V4 4 Q1! /6 4M1. mm w 7 \mllllllll I! w 1 I Ill 1 ll ....l .mNH. l umw 4 VOTE RECORDER The presentinvention relates to improvements in data registering devices or voterecorders and, more particularly, to

ing that the voting selections, as punched in the card, will ac--curately reflect the voters wishes when the ballots are counted. It isnecessary to insure that the chips or card portions punched out of theselected, prescored areas on the ballot are positively separated fromthe ballot and retained in the vote recorder so that errors will not bemade when processing the ballots because of a chip being only partiallyremoved and remaining attached to the ballot during counting.

In prior vote recording devices, such as the type shown in US. Pat. No.3,240,409 to J. P. Harris, a plurality of elongated strips of resilientmaterial having T-shaped cross sections and arranged in side-by-siderelation, have been used to underlie and support machine processableballots during the voting selection process, and the stylus is extendedbetween the edges of adjacent strips when used to punch out the voterschoices. Because a number of strips are needed for each vote recorderand because the strips are normally glued or ccmcntcd in place, theprocess of installation of the strips is complex, costly and timeconsuming. in some instances, after the stylus is inserted through aselected prescored area on the card and is then withdrawn, the chip orcard portion within the selected prescored area was merely foldeddownwardly on the card along an edge but still remained attached to theballot. This often resulted in an inaccurate counting and tabulation ofthe vote when the cards were later processed or counted in a votetabulating machine.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved data registering device or vote recorder of the characterdescribed employing new and improved means for insuring that the chipsor ballot portions punched from selected prescored areas on a ballot arecompletely removed and permanently detached from'the ballot so that anaccurate vote tabulation can be obtained.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved vote recorder of the character described employing novel meansfor supporting the ballot during the selection or voting process, saidmeans being operable to insure that the chips or ballot portions thatare punched from the ballot are wiped off the stylus during retractionthereof and retained in the recorder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedsupporting and chip retaining, resilient ballot supporting mat which iseasily installed and/or replaced in a vote recorder and which has a longand useful life without requiring maintenance or replacement afterprolonged periods of heavy usage.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved resilient, ballot supporting chip retainer for vote recordersof the character described, having especially designed slots therein forreceiving the stylus and insuring that the punched-out chips or ballotportions are not permitted to adhere to the card after the punching hasbeen completed and the stylus withdrawn.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present inventionare accomplished in an illustrative embodiment of the inventioncomprising a vote recorder apparatus for supporting a ballot card duringthe voting process as selec' tions are made by a voter by punching outselected prescored areas on a machine processable ballot with a stylus.The apparatus includes support means underlying the card for supportingthe same while the voting selection is ,made by downward movement of thestylus through the card. The support means comprises a unitary chipretaining mat formed of thin, resilient sheet material and is providedwith a plurality of elongated slotted openings arranged in rows thereinto match in underlying, confronting relation, prescored areas on amachine processable ballot. Each slot or opening is defined by a pair ofelongated sides which are closely spaced apart ad jacent the uppersurface of the mat by a distance less than the width of the stylus andslope downwardly and outwardly in opposite directions therefrom towardthe lower surfaceof the mat. Upon downward movement of the stylusthrough the slots in themat, the opposite side surfaces defining theslot are deflected downwardly and outwardly and the closely spaced upperedges cling tightly against the stylus. On upward withdrawal of thestylus after the punching operation has been completed, the edges of theslot are drawn inwardly, tightly against the stylus, and positivelyremove the punched-out chip or ballot portion from the stylus and ballotand retain the chip below the mat. The chip retaining mat thuspositively insures that the ballot chip does not remain attached to theballot after the punching is completed and the stylus is withdrawn.

For a better understanding of the present invention reference should behad to the following detailed description and claims, taken inconjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of a new and improved data registeringdevice or vote recorder constructed in accordance with the features ofthepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view taken substantiallyalong lines 2-2 of FIG. 1',

FIG. 3 is a transverse. vertical, sectional view taken substantiallyalong lines 3-3 of FIG. 2-,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view taken through thevote recording device of FIG. 1, with a ballot inserted thereinillustrating the stylus in a raised, aligned position ready for punchingthe ballot to make a selection;

FIGS. 5 through 9 are enlarged, fragmentary, sectional views similar toFIG. 3, showing sequentially the functional cooperation between thestylus and the chip retainer of the vote recorder as a selection is madeby a voter in punching out a selected prescored area on a ballot withthe stylus and illustrating removal of the chip upon upward withdrawalof the stylus after a selection has been made; and

FIG. 10 is a top plan view ofa new and improved ballot supporting chipretaining mat constructed in accordance with the features of the presentinvention.

Referring now, more particularly, to the drawings, therein isillustrated a data registering device or vote recorder generallyreferred to by the reference numeral 10 and constructed in accordancewith the features of the present invention.

The vote recorder 10 includes a ballot holding framework generallyreferred to by the numeral 12 and a ballot punching stylus 14 connectedto the recorder by a flexible chain 16 to allow the voter to manipulatethe stylus as desired when making selections. The ballot holdingframework 12 is adapted to receive a machine processable ballot 18inserted therein and the voter indicates his selections by punching outselected, prescored areas 18a (FIG. 4) aligned in parallel rows on theballot card. A relatively large number of prescored areas 18 a areprovided on the card so that a large general election, wherein manycandidates, offices, and issues are to be voted on, can be accommodated.The prescored areas 18a are generally rectangular in shape, as shown inFIG. 4, and are formed in a stamping operation in which the perimeter ofthe area is outlined and the surface indented to provide for a clean,punch out operation when the stylus is used.

As a selection or choice is made by the voter the lower portion of thestylus 14 is forced through the ballot causing a small rectangular chipor card portion to be removed from the ballot 18 leaving a clean,rectangular slot or opening 19 which is counted on a tabulating machinewhen the ballots are processed after the election. The rectangular chipsor punched out portions of the ballot are referred to herein byreference numeral 20 and, once the chips are punched out of the ballotthey are permanently separated from the remaining portion of the ballotand are retained in the interior of the vote recorder.

Preferably, the ballot holder 12 is formed of molded plastic materialand includes an upper, generally rectangular framework 22 and aseparate, lower base member or frame 24 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The rectangularshaped upper framework 22 includes a pair of longitudinal, opposite sidemembers 26 of angular cross section (FIG. 3), a lower, transverse crossmember or end member 28, an intermediate, transverse cross member 30 andan upper transverse cross member 32. In order to direct the votersattention to the proper row of prescored area 180 on the ballot card 18for making his selection, the vote recorder includes a plurality ofvoting information leaves 34 and a sufficient number of leaves 34 areprovided for each election, depending upon the number of candidates,issues, offices, etc., to be voted on by the elector. The leaves 34 arepivotally mounted on the upper framework 22 of the ballot holder 12 andare read in succession by the voter during the voting procedure. Afterthe issues depicted on one leaf have been voted, the next leaf is turnedover and voted and the process is continued until the voter hascompleted all of his selections. Each voting information leaf includesan outer, protective envelope or jacket formed of tough, clear,flexible, plastic material and a voting information sheet 38 iscontained in the jacket for directing the voters attention to therelevant area 18a on the ballot. As more fully described in commonlyassigned copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 747,607 filed July 25,1968 the plastic envelopes 36 are preferably heat sealed around threeoutside edges as at A, B, and C, and are open along a fourth, insideedge D so that an appropriate voting information sheet can be insertedin the jacket. After the appropriate voting information sheet has beeninserted into a plastic envelope, an elongated hinge pin 40 is threadedinto coaxially aligned, tubular socket portions 36a formed on alternate,opposite side members of the envelope along the open edge D. Insertionof the hinge pin closes the envelope and the completed votinginformation leaf 34 is then pivotally mounted on the upper framework 22of the ballot holder 12 on a vote recorder. The intermediate crossmember 30 of the ballot holder is formed with a recess 30a (FIG. 2) onthe underside, and the pointed ends of the hinge pins 40projectforwardly into and are accommodated within the recess. The lowerend cross member 28 of the ballot holder 12 is formed with a similarrecess 28a on the underside for receiving the eyelet ends of the pins 40and the opposite end portions of the pins are supported in spaced,keyhole shaped openings (FIG. 3) formed between downwardly extendingprojections 28!) and 30b, respectively, formed within the recesses 28aand 30a. The eyelets of the pins 40 are snapped over separate,downwardly extending, pin projections 280 formed in the recess 28a, thuspreventing the pins from rotating once the leaves 34 are assembled intoplace and flipped over or turned as the voting proceeds.

In order that a ballot 18 can be easily inserted into the ballot holder12 into position for voting, the upwardly facing'edge 30c of theintermediate cross member 30 and the opposite, downwardly facing, loweredge 32a of the upper cross member 32 are spaced apart as best shown inFIG. 2, thereby defining a slot or opening 42 for receiving the lowerend portion of the ballot 18 as it is inserted downwardly into the voterecorder 10 from the upper end of the ballot holder 12 (FIG. 1). Forthis purpose, the opposing edge surfaces 30c and 32a of the respectivecross members 30 and 32 are rounded, and the underside of the crossmember 30 is curved to guide the ballot into proper place as it isinserted into the vote recorder.

The upwardly facingsurface 32b of the upper an end cross member 32 issloped, as shown in FIG. 2, to aid in guidingthe insertion of the ballot18 into the ballot holder 12, and to prevent lateral movement of theballot during insertion," the framework 12 includes a pair of upstandingside guide bosses or projections 44 having vertical inside faces adaptedto guide the longitudinal side edges of the ballot into the ballotopening 42. The upper surface 32b of the main portion of the upper endcross member 32 is sloped, as shown, at an angle similar to the curvedunderside of the intermediate cross member 30 and serves to guide thecard or ballot 18 through the opening 42 into a fully inserted votingposition wherein the voter makes selections by punching out the cardwith the stylus 14.

In order to lock and hold the ballot 18 in a fully inserted votingposition in the ballot holder 12, a pair of integrally formed,upstanding locating projections 320 are integrally formed to projectupwardly from the sloped surface 32b of the upper end cross member 32,and the locating pins are rounded at their upper ends for easyengagement with appropriately located holes or openings 18b formedadjacent the upper edge of the ballot card. The openings 18b are spacedeccentrically of the longitudinal center line of the ballot card 18 sothat the ballot may be locked into place with the pins 32c in theopenings only when the printed matter on the ballot is facing upwardly,thereby insuring that proper areas are punched to accurately reflect thevoters selections. The voting area of ballot cards presently being usedand suitable for machine processing is approximately 3 /4 inches inwidth and 7% inches long, and I2 rows of prescored areas 18a areprovided with 19 or 20 prescored areas or punch locations in each row.The punch locations are arranged in a nonsymmetrical matrix on theballot with areas 18a in one row being staggered from those in anadjacent row.

Accordingly, the ballots can accommodate 235 bits of information orselections and this number is usually more than enough for mostelections. Normally, not more than four or five rows of punch out areasare required on the ballot, and in the illustrated embodiment, which istypical, only five rows on the left-hand side of the ballot are beingused. Because all of the available rows on a ballot are not normallyutilized, and generally in each row that is used not all of the possiblespaces in the row are needed, and in order that the unused spaces in arow can be covered so as to not confuse the voter, a masking card 46 isprovided having a plurality of circular openings 46a, each being locatedappropriately over a prescored punch out area 18a which is to beavailable to the voter in making his selection. Because the number ofrows being used varies from election to election, correspondingly thenumber and location of the openings 46a in the mask 46 varies for eachelection. The mask 46 is preferably constructed of relatively stiffcardboard or card stock and is perforated appropriately for theelection. The mask is placed in position in the vote recorder beneaththe ballot information leaves 34 and, as best shown in FIG. 3, oppositelongitudinal edges of the mask 46 are sandwiched between inwardlydirected flange portions 26a formed on the side members 26 of the upperballot framework 22 and the upper edges of longitudinal side members 25of the base frame 24. Opposite ends of the mask are seated in slots 28dand 30d, respectively, in the upper ballot holding framework crossmembers 28 and 30.

Beneath the mask 46 is provided a relatively thick, stylus guiding diemember 48 formed of plastic and having a plurality of stylus guidingopenings 48a therein which are aligned in parallel rows to match thepunch out areas 18a in the ballot inserted into the vote recorder. Theopenings 48a in the die member 48 are slightly larger in diameter thanthe intermediate stem portion 14a of the stylus and guide the stylusvertically downward through the ballot as shown in FIGS. 5 through 9.The upper end portion of the stylus openings 480 are enlarged andfrustoconically shaped to aid in initially guiding or centering of thereduced diameter tip end portion 14b V of the stylus above the opening.

with the openings 46a in the mask, indicating that a ballot 18 has notbeen inserted into place ready for the voting operation. Upon insertionof a ballot into the ballot holder 12 through the main ballot receivingslot or opening 42 at the upper end of the framework, the lower end ofthe ballot engages a lug 48b on the underside of the die member adjacentthe lower end and moves the die member downwardly against the force ofthe spring 49 into a registering position wherein the openings 48a arealigned directly beneath the openings 46a in the mask. With a ballotthus inserted in the ballot holder 12 and the openings 18b at the upperend of the ballot seated on the alignment pins or projections 32c, theballot is positively retained in the proper position for voting with theprescored punch out areas 18a in registration beneath the aligned pairsof openings 46a and 48a in the .mask and die member. The ballot itselfholds the die member 48 in the voting position (FIG. 2) in registrationwith mask 46 against the force of the spring 49 and, after voting iscompleted and the ballot is withdrawn from the ballot holder, the spring49 again moves the die member out of registration with the mask 46.

In accordance with the present invention, the ballot 18 is supported ina voting positionwithin the ballot holder 12 on a chip retaining mat 50which is formed from a sheet of resilient material. As shown in FIG.'10, the chipretaining mat has a planar upper portion 50a and is formedof a plastic material, such as polyethylene or neoprene, having adurometer hardness preferably in the range of 65 to 80. The chipretaining mat is of rectangular shape and is substantially equal in sizeto the voting portion of the ballot 18, which it underlies. The lowerbase framework 24 of the ballot holder 12 provides support for the chipretaining mat 50 and for this purpose includes a plurality oflongitudinally extending, spaced apart ribs 52 parallel to the sidemembers 25 and integrally joined at op osite ends with transversestiffening ribs 54 (FIG. 2). Preferably, the base framework 24 is formedof molded plastic material and includes an upper end cross member 56 anda lower end cross member 58 integrally joined with the lower endstiffening rib 54 by a bottom wall member 60. The members 54, 58, and 60form a hollow area 62 for housing the spring 49 which biases the lowerend of the die member. 48 toward the opposite end of the die supportingframe. Intermediate the end cross members 54, the ribs 52 are stiffenedby transverse ribs 64, best shown in FIG. 2, with the result that thebottom base framework 24 of the ballot holder provides a strong,gridlike structure for supporting the resilient chip retaining mat 50thereon.

The support ribs 52 are spaced apart and lie intermediate the rows ofdie openings 48a in the die member 48, so that open areas 66 areprovided between the ribs to accommodate the chips punched out of theballot 18. Each rlb 52 is formed with a longitudinally extending recess52a adjacent the upper edge thereof for receiving a downwardly dependingstiffening flange 50b integrally formed on the underside of the chipretaining mat 50. It will thus be seen that the mat is firmly supportedby the stiffening ribs 52 and is locked against lateral movement thereinby the engagement of the downwardly'depending flanges 50b which arepreferably adhesively secured within the recesses 52a in the supportingframework ribs.

The spaced, parallel flanges 50b on the underside of the chip retainingmat 50 are preferably integrally formed with the body of the mat, andthe flanges are spaced to liemidway between the adjacent rows of dieopenings 48a, in'order' that the stylus 14 can pass freely through theballot into the areas 66 between the support ribs 52 withoutinterference.

In accordance with the present invention, the body 50a of the chipretaining mat is constructed to be approximately one sixteenth inchthick, and the lateral spacing between the stiffening flanges 50b wasapproximately one-fourth inch. Each row or area on the chip retainingmat between each pair of flanges 50b is formed with a plurality ofelongated slits or openings 50, each opening positioned to underlie aprescored area 18a on a ballot when it is placed in the vote recorderand locked in voting position therein.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 through 10, the slits 50: extend longitudinallyof the chip retaining mat and lie in parallel rows spaced midway betweeneach pair of adjacent flanges 50b on the underside of the chip mat. Eachslit or opening 50c is disposed to lie at approximately a right anglewith the longitudinal or wider dimension of the associated prescoredrectangular area 18a on the ballot 18, and each slit 50c includeslongitudinal side surfaces 68 (FIGS. 4-9) which slope normallydownwardly and outwardly from the top surface of the chip mat to amaximum spacing at the bottom surface of the mat intermediate thestiffening flanges 50b As best shown in FIG. 4, opposite ends of theslits 500 are formed by parallel triangularly shaped end surfaces 70. 6

Referring to FIGS. 5 through 9, when the voter decides on a candidate,office, or issue, the stylus 14 is grasped and centered above theappropriate opening 460 in the mask 46 and the concentrically alignedopening 48a in the die 48. The stylusis then moved downwardly from theposition of FIG. 5 to that of FIG. 6 wherein the-lower tip portion 14bbegins to engage a chip 20 defined within a selected prescored area 180on the ballot 18. Further downward movement of the stylus causes thechip 20 to be punched downwardly and removed cleanly from the ballot inthe manner shown in FIG. 7. The chip is carried along on the tip of thestylus into the area 66 between an adjacent pair of supporting ribs 52,and normally falls from the stylus tip into the bottom of the ballotholder.

The chip mat 50 is resilient and absorbs the force of the stylus,permitting the chip 20 to be readily severed from the remaining portionof the ballot 18 and carried downwardly with the stylus through the slitor opening 50c. During this process the opposite longitudinal sidesurfaces 68 of the selected slit or opening 500 are deflected downwardlyby the stylus and the upper corners cling tightly against the stylus, asshown in FIG. 7. Upon upward withdrawal of the stylus, as illustrated inFIG. 8, if the chip 20 is still retained on the tip portion of thestylus, the adjacent edge surfaces 68 of the slit or opening 50c clingclosely to the stylus and effectively wipe the chip from the stylus asthe stylus is withdrawn upwardly. When this occurs, the chip 20 fallsfreely downwardly in the space 66 into the bottom of the ballot holder12.

Because the surfaces 68, which define the opposite longitudinal sides ofeach slit or opening 500 the chip mat are sloped downwardly andoutwardly, as shown, there is virtually no possibility that a chip canremain on the stylus after the stylus is withdrawn upwardly of the chipmat. Moreover, there is no possibility that a chip 20 will be retainedwithin a slit or opening 50c after the stylus is withdrawn therefrombecause of the downwardly and outwardly sloping wall surfaces 68.

In prior stylus operated voting devices, often a number of punched outchips collected and lodged in slots or openings in a ballot supportingstructure and, accordingly, insertion of ballots into the devices wassometimes difficult. Tests conducted on devices constructed inaccordancewith the invention revealed that after a large number of punches with astylus have been completed, no problems have arisen because of a failureto separate or punch out the chips 20 from the ballot and few, if any,chips 20 were retained in an opening or slit 50c in the chip mat afterthe perforations were completed on the ballot and the stylus withdrawn.The present invention simplifies the construction and programming of avote recorder for an election in that only a single unitary chipretaining mat is required, rather than separate chip retaining devicesfor each prescored area 18a or row of prescored areas on the ballot.Moreover, it is virtually impossible for a chip 20 to be carriedupwardly with the stylus 14 after it has been punched out of andseparated from the remaining portion of a ballot, thus making operationof the vote recorder of the invention extremely reliable andexcellentlysuited for use in elections.

While there has been illustrated and described one embodiment of thepresent invention, it will be appreciated that numerous changes andmodifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intendedin the appended claims to cover all those changes and modificationswhich fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for recording selections made by punching out selected,prescored areas on a card with a stylus comprising support meansunderlying said card for supporting the same while selections arepunched out downwardly of said card with said stylus, said supportrneans'comprising a mat formed of a thin unitary sheet of resilientmaterial and provided with a plurality of elongated, slotted openingstherein positioned in matched confronting relation with the prescoredareas on said card, each of said openings being defined by opposite edgesurfaces closely spaced apart adjacent the upper surface of said mat bya distance less than thewidth of said stylus and sloping downwardly andoutwardly in opposite directions toward the lower surface of said matwhereby downward movement of said stylus through a prescored area ofsaid card deflects said closely spaced edge surfaces downwardly andoutwardly, and upward retraction of said stylus from an opening in saidmat causes said edge surfaces to be drawn tightly against said styluscausing the punched out portion of the card to be retained below saidmat, said elongated slotted openings in said mat aligned in laterallyspaced rows in spaced apart, end-toend relation, said mat includingintegrally formed, downwardly extending, longitudinal stiffening ribsspaced between said rows.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means includes aplurality of parallel, spaced apart, longitudinal support membersunderlying said mat, each support member being formed of rigid materialand including an elongated upwardly facing recess therein receiving astiffening rib of said mat.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said support members are U-shapedtransverse cross section and said ribs of said mat are adhesivelysecured in the recesses of said support members.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mat is formed of extrudedplastic material having a durometer hardness in the range of 65 to 80.

5. The chip retaining mat of claim 1 wherein said slotted openingscomprise elongated slits arranged in spaced apart, end-to-end relationalong laterally spaced, parallel rows and wherein said integrallyformed, stiffening ribs are in parallel alignment spaced between saidrows of slits.

6. The chip retaining mat of claim 5 wherein said deflectable oppositeedge surfaces of each slit are spaced apart along said upper surface ofsaid mat by a distance substantially less than the width of said stylusand slope downwardly and oppositely outward toward the lower surface ofsaid mat.

7. The chip retaining mat of claim 6 wherein each slit is terminated atopposite ends by substantially triangular shaped end surfaces extendinggenerally normal to the upper surface of said mat.

